Mechanism for stagger piling of metal sheets



Dec. 29 1959 BUCCICQNE 7 2,918,852

MECHANISM FOR STAGGER FILING 0F METAL SHEETS Filed Jan. 18, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR. Darzofluccworze,

Dec. 29, 1959 D. Buccxcom: 2,918,352

MECHANISM FOR STAGGER FILING 0F METAL SHEETS Filed Jan. 18, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INV ENTOR. flarwfizzcacozze,

BY I W United States Patent MECHANISM FOR STAGGER FILING 0F METAL SHEETS Dario Buccicone, Gary, Ind., assignor to Bucciconi Engineering Company, Inc., Gary, Ind., a corporation of Indiana Application January 18, 1956, Serial No. 559,849

17 Claims. (CI. 93-93) This invention relates to apparatus for piling metal sheets as they are delivered from a high speed processing line and is more particularly concerned with improvements in mechanism for arranging the sheets in staggered relation in the pile.

Normally metal sheets are delivered from a shear and deposited in a pile with the successive sheets having their edges in vertical alignment. In some sheet processing operations, it is desirable to arrange the sheets in the pile so that when they are subsequently removed, usually by hand, the operator may grasp a plurality of the sheets and remove them from the pile at one time. In order to facilitate the removal of the sheets in units or tiers of a definite number, it is necessary to arrange them initially in such relation in the pile as they are delivered to the same, with each tier of sheets being staggered at one edge relative to the adjacent tiers of sheets. Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to provide a mechanism for arranging metal sheets in staggered relation in a piling operation with the sheets being arranged in groups or tiers of a predetermined number and with each tier being offset relative to the adjacent tiers so that space is provided along one edge of the sheets for the handler to insert his fingers and lift the top tier off of the pile.

It is a more specific object of the invention to provide a sheet piling mechanism which is particularly adapted for use with a magnetic conveyor which receives the sheets as they advance along a processing line and releases them above the piler mechanism so that the sheets will drop onto a pile, the piler mechanism including end stop and back stop members which are engaged by the leading and trailing edges, respectively, of the successive sheets and which guide the sheets into final position on the. pile between the members.

It is another object of the invention to provide a piler of the sheets, which stop mechanisms include bumper devices spaced a greater distance apart than the corresponding dimension of the sheets, and vertically movable bumper stop plates associated with the bumper devices which are adapted to be alternately positioned to shorten the distance between the bumper devices and guide the sheets in staggered relation onto the pile.

It is another object of the invention to provide in an apparatus of the type described end stop and back stop members which are provided with adjustable bumper stop plates arranged in front of the stop members, which bumper stop plates are adapted to be moved vertically between a lower sheet engaging position and an upper out-of-the way position, and mechanisms for controlling the positioning of the bumper stop plates so that they may be raised and lowered in alternate relation upon the deposit of a predetermined number of sheets on the pile whereby the sheets will be arranged on the pile in tiers and in staggered relation.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from a consideration of the apparatus which is shown by way of illustration in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partly schematic, and with portions broken away, of a sheet piler having incorporated therein mechanism embodying the principal features of the invention; I

Fig. 2 is a side elevation similar to Fig. 1 with the end stop and back stop members arranged in a dilferent position;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the end stop mechanism shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary, side elevation illustrating the operation of the end stop mechanism as it is engaged by the leading edge of a sheet delivered to the pile;

Fig. 5 is a cross section taken on the line 55 of Fig. 1 with portions broken away;

Fig. 6 is a cross section taken on the lines 6-6 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7. is a section taken on the line 77 of Fig. 6; to an enlarged scale, and with portions broken away;

Fig. 8- is a wiring diagram of the electrical connections for operating the mechanism; and

Figs. 9,10 and 11 are diagrammatic views illustrating the operation of the air cylinder control valves.

Referring to the drawings, there is illustrated a sheet piler having mechanism embodying the principal featuresof the invention incorporated therein and which is particularly adapted for use in combination with rail type magnetic conveyors of the character disclosed in Patents Nos. 2,374,174, dated April 24, 1945, 2,600,475,

dated June 17, 1952, and 2,642,174, dated June 16, 1953. It is understood, however, that the use of the mechanism herein disclosed is not limited to magnetic type pliers but is adapted to be used in other arrangements where sheets are delivered for deposit on a pile.

In the apparatus as illustrated, the metal sheets S are received from a shear or other point in a processing line on the belt conveyor 10' and delivered to the right or entry end of a magnetic conveyor 11. The magnetic conveyor 11 comprises a series of transversely spaced raillike conveyor units 12, each of which comprises a pair of sheaves 13 and 14, at least one of which is power driven, and a plurality of laterally spaced endless belts 15 extending around the sheaves. Each conveyor or rail unit 12 contains electromagnets, not shown, which have downwardly facing poles and which, while energized, are adapted to hold sheets S against the underside of the belts 15 so that the belts can advance the sheets toward the left in Fig. l. A suitable control means is provided for energizing and deenergizing the electromagnets to cause the successive sheets to be held against the lower runs of the belts 15 until they are advance a predetermined distance toward the left then they are released by deenergizing of the magnets and allowed to drop for deposit on a pile beneath the conveyor. The control mechanism may consist of a normally closed control switch having an operating arm 16 extending into the path of the sheets advancing on the underside of the conveyor 11. The position of the control arm 16 is adjusted so that the leading edge of each sheet engages the arm to open the switch, deenergize the magnets, and release the sheet as the sheet reaches the proper position for deposit in the pile beneath the same.

A lift arrangement 17 is provided beneath the conveyor 11- which supports the pile of sheets S. An end stop mechanism or unit, indicatedat 18, and a back stop unit, indicated at 19, are arranged at opposite ends of the elevator 17' for guiding the sheets into proper position on the pile. The mechanism thus far referred to aside from the end stop and back stop units are not per se a part of the present invention but can be of any standard or desired construction and, therefore, are not shown nor described in greater detail. The prior patents referred to above disclose in detail a suitable mechanism with which the present invention may be employed and these patents may be referred to for details not herein described.

The end stop mechanism or unit 18 and the back stop mechanism or unit 19 are adjusted so that the normal distance between their opposed faces is greater than the dimension of the sheets in the same direction, in order that the sheets may be arranged in the pile in staggered relation, one end of the sheets being positioned adjacent the face of one of the mechanisms, while the other end thereof is spaced from the face of the other mechanism a sufi'icient distance to enable the handler to position his fingers beneath the edge of the uppermost sheets.

The end stop mechanism 18 is preferably suspended beneath the exit end of the conveyor 11 on a supporting frame 26. The supporting frame 2% may be sus pended from the same framework which supports the conveyor 11 or it may be mounted in any other convenient manner so that the end stop unit 18 is properly positioned relative to the elevator 17 and the conveyor 11.

The end stop mechanism 18 comprises a vertically positioned bumper stop member 21 which may consist of a metal backing plate 22. and a bumper pad 23 of rubber or similar resilient material against which the loading or forward edge of the sheet is adapted to be projected in a normal piling operation. The pad 23 is, of course, rigidly attached to the backing plate 22 and may have incorporated in the base thereof a metal plate 24 to which the resilient facing material is integrally connected. The bumper stop member 21 is mounted for horizontal reciprocating movement by means of two longitudinally spaced pairs of laterally spaced supporting links 25 and 26. The links 25 are pivoted at their lower ends by pins 27 to laterally spaced rearwardly extending bracket ears or bar members 23 which are rigidly connected to the lower end of the backing plate 22 and at their upper ends by pins 29 to depending portions of laterally spaced side supporting plates 36*, the latter forming part of the supporting frame 243. The links 26 are connected at their lower ends to the ends of the bar members 28 by pins 32 and at their upper ends by pins 33 to the side frame plates 34). The upper and lower pivots 3329 and 3227 are in parallel vertically spaced planes so that the face of the bumper member 21 is held in a vertical plane while it is moved horizontally under the impact of the leading edge of a sheet. Laterally spaced L-shaped bracket forming members 34 are rigidly connected by welding or the like at one end to the plate 22 above and inwardly spaced from the bar members 28 and extend rearwardly of the plate 22. Each bracket member 34 is connected at its other end by an outwardly directed connecting bar member 35 with one of the link bar members 28. The bracket members 34 are spaced on opposite sides of the longitudinal center of the stop mechanism as shown in Fig. 3 and a cross pin 36 connects the ends of the members 34 with the end of a piston 37 of a cushioning air cylinder 38. The air cylinder 38 has its other end connected by a pivot pin 39 to a U-shaped bracket member 39' to a cross channel bar 40 at the rear end of the supporting frame 20, the bracket member 39 being secured to the channel 46 by welding or the like. The air cylinder 38 is controlled so that the piston is normally held extended by air pressure which in turn normally holds the bumper member 21 in its extended or foremost position. The cylinder 38 is preferably provided with a compres- 4 sion spring to help cushion the shock on the piston rod 37 when large forces are applied.

The bumper member 21 has associated therewith a vertically adjustable or movable bumper member 41 which may be of substantially smaller size. The generally rectangular face of the bumper member 41 may be provided with any type of pad as indicated at 42. The bumper 41 is positioned in front of the forward face of the end stop member 21 and is pivotally mounted at its lower end by pin 43 to the end of an arm member is which extends forwardly of a supporting carriage The carriage 45 is provided with laterally spaced side frame plates 46 which are connected by upper and lower cross pins 47 on which pairs of guide rollers 48 are mounted. An upright frame comprising a pair of laterally spaced guideway forming channel members 49 is provided for the carriage 45. The guideway forming channels 49 are rigidly secured to the inner ends of a pair of laterally spaced longitudinally extending vertical support plates 50 and have their open faces in opposed relation to form oppositely disposed tracks for the rollers 48. The channels 49 are connected at the top and bottom by cross members or spacers 51 which serve to brace these members and also to limit the movement of the carriage 45. The bumper member 41 is also connected to the bracket arm 44 by means of a link member 53 which is pivoted to the arm 44 at 54 and which carries a pivot pin 55 at its forward end which is slidable in elongate slots 56 in the side edge flanges of the bumper 41 and which limits the movement of the latter about its supporting pivot 43.

The carriage 45 is connected by a bracket forming ear 57 and a link 58 to the end of a longitudinally extending swingable operating arm 59. The link 58 is pivoted at its one end by pin 61 to the ear 57 and at its other end by pin 61 to the operating arm 59. The operating arm 5'9 is pivotally supported at its other end on pin 62 which extends between the support plates 50, the latter being rigidly connected to the supporting frame 20. The operating arm 59 is swung in a vertical plane to raise and lower the carriage by operation of a spring loaded air cylinder 63. The air cylinder 63 is mounted on the vertical end cross plate 64 of the supporting frame 20 with the piston 65 thereof extending inwardly of the supporting frame 20 and carrying a clevis 66 having a cam roller 67 mounted on a supporting pin 68 therein. The cam roller 67 is positioned to engage a circular track forming lower edge portion 69 on the arm 59 adjacent the pivot 62. The pin 68 also carries at its opposite ends a pair of smaller rollers 70 (Fig. 3) which are adapted to be supported for horizontal movement on a pair of track forming angle members 71 which are mounted on the laterally spaced support plates St).

The supply of air to the cylinder 63 is controlled in a manner which will be described to operate the arm 59 when required to elevate the bumper 41 and swing it to a position between the conveyor units 12, as shown in Fig. 2, where it is out of the path of travel of the sheets which are delivered by the conveyor so that the sheets S initially contact the bumper pad 23 below bumper member 21 and are guided onto the pile with the leading edges aligned vertically in the plane of face of the bumper pad 23. When the bumper 41 is lowered by retracting the piston 65 the lower edge 44' of the bracket arm 44 rests on the top sheet of the pile and remains in that position while succeeding sheets strike the bumper and are guided into position on the pile. The bumper 41 pivots on the pin 43 when the leading edge of a sheet strikes it and the force of the impact causes the stop plate member 211, to retract as shown in Fig. 4 with the sheet ridin down the inclined face of the bumper 41 onto the pile. The shock of the impact is absorbed by cylinder 38 and plate Zil will follow the motion of the piston rod 37, when it recovers, to its original position as shown in Fig. 1. Bumper pad 41 also pushes the'sheet back against the back stop 19 as well as allowing the sheet to drop; This insures proper alignment of the back edge of the sheet against the back stop.

The back stop mechanism or unit 19, which is located at the entrance end of the conveyor 11, comprises an upright supporting plate member 72 (Figs. 1, 2, 6 and 7) on the face of which a stop plate or bumper pad 73. is secured. The supporting plate member 72 may form part of the end frame structure at the right end of the machine. The supporting plate member 72 and the stop plate 73 are cut away on the vertical center line as indicated at 74 to provide a vertically extending slot for accommodating an auxiliary mechanism which includes a vertically movable bumper or stop member 75. ,The bumper stop member 75 comprises two connected plate members, an upper or outer face plate 76 and a lower or inner backing or base plate 77 each of which is provided with a rearwardly bent portion at the top thereof. The two plates 76 and 77 are loosely connected by a rivet 78 on the one plate which extends through a slot 79 in the other plate. The base plate 77 is pivoted by pin 80 to the upper end of an upwardly extending carriage 81, the latter having spaced side members 82 in which pin 80 is journalled. The base plate 77 is provided adjacent its lower edge with a pair of laterally spaced cam rollers 83 which are mounted on suitable bearing brackets 84 extending from the rear of the base plate 77. The base plate 77 is also provided with a rearwardly extending U- shaped member 85 which extends between the bracket side arm members 82 and has a bight member 85' with lateral extensions on the ends thereof which engage the back edges of members 82 and limits the outward or forward movement of the stop member 75. The base plate 77 is pivotally connected to the upper end of a vertically extending bar member 86 (Fig. 7) which rides in a guideway forming recess 87 in the bar or frame member forming the carriage 81. The bar. member 86 has a threaded stem 89 of reduced section on its lower end which carries a tension spring 90 and an adjustable end stop nut 91. The tension spring 90 is mounted in an enlarged portion 87 of the recess 87 at the lower end of the carriage 81 with its upper end engaging with an abutment shoulder 92 and tends to pull the bar 86 downwardly thereby to hold the auxiliary bumper stop member 75 against the face of the main bumper member 73 when the bumper member 75 is in its lowered position. In the raised position of the bumper member 75 the cam rollers 85 are adapted to ride on cam tracks 93 which are provided on the upper edges of a pair of laterally spaced guide members. 94, the latter being attached by welding or thelike to the back of the upright stop plate 72. The spring 90 acting through the bar 86 retracts the bumper 75 as the latter moves up to the top edge of the main bumper plate 73 and the cam rollers 83 move onto the tracks 93, the latter extending rearwardly and upwardly relative to the face of the bumper 73 so that the face of the movable bumper 75 does not project beyond the vertical plane of the face of the fixed main bumper 73'.

The carriage 81 is formed with oppositely facing vertical track forming side grooves 95 which are adapted toreceive guideway forming rollers 96. The rollers 96 are mounted on pins 97 extending rearwardly of the upright stop plate 72. The carriage 81 is alsoprovided with a rearwardly extending bracket 98 having a depending pair of bracket ears 99 which are connected by the pivot pin 100 to a piston rod 101 of a spring loaded air cylinder 102. The cylinder 102 is mounted on a bracket plate 103 extending rearwardly of the vertical stop plate 72. Both bracket plates 98 and 103 are welded or otherwise rigidly secured to the rear face of the plate 72. The air supply to the cylinder 102 controls the vertical movement of the carriage 81 and determines the position of the auxiliary bumper member 75.

The diagram in Fig. 8 illustrates a suitable arrangement for automatically controlling the operation of the machine. Current is supplied through the supply lines and main switch 105 to a solenoid type sheet counter 106 which has coupled with it a photo cell or magnetic switch control indicated at 107. Current is also supplied to the operating valve 108 for air cylinder 63 which raises and lowers the end stop auxiliary-bumper 41 and valve 109 for air cylinder 102 which raises and lowers the back stop auxiliary bumper 75. The operation of the two valves 108 and 109 is controlled by the counter 106 the switch indicated at 110.

The sequence of operation of the valves 108 and 109 is illustrated schematically in Figs. 9 to 11. In Fig. 9 the main switch 105 is in the open position and air is supplied through the lines. 111 and 112 to both cylinders 63 and 103 through valves 108 and 109 which results in both auxiliary bumpers 41 and 75 being held in. the raised position for removal of the piled sheets. In Fig. 10 air is supplied to cylinder 103 only through the line 112 and valve 109, line 111 being connected to the exhaust line through valve 108, which results in auxiliary bumper 75 being held in raised or retracted position while auxiliary bumper 41 is allowed to drop to be lowered position, these members being positioned as shown in Fig. 1. In Fig. 11 air is supplied to the cylinder 63 only, through the line 111 and valve 108, line 112 being connected to the exhaust line through the valve 109, which results in the auxiliary bumper 41 being raised and the bumper 75 being lowered, these members being then positioned'as shown in Fig. 2.

In operating the stagger piling mechanism which is illustrated, the sheets S are delivered from the feed conveyor 10 to the magnetic conveyor 11 and the control arm 16 for the latter is adjusted so that successive sheets S are released above the end stop mechanism 18 in proper timed relation. The forward or leading edge of each successive sheet S impinges on either the face or the end stop auxiliary bumper member 41 or the main bumper stop member 21 depending upon the location ofthe former. When the auxiliary bumper member 41 is in the lowermost position (Fig. 1) the forward edge of the sheet S strikes the face of the same and swings it back wardly against the bumper member 21 as shown in Fig. 3, the movement being resisted by the air pressure in the cylinder 38. Each sheet S is stopped by the impact with the bumper members and settles on to the pile, the leading edge of the sheet sliding down the inclined face of the bumper 41 into position on the pile. Meanwhile, the auxiliary bumper member 75 of the back stop unit 19 is positioned at its uppermost limit or retracted (Fig. 1) so that thetrailing edge of the sheet is pushed back against the face of the fixed bumper member 73 by movement of the bumper 41 and is guided onto the pile with the edge thereof in vertical alignment with the fixed face of the bumper 73. When a predetermined number of sheets have been deposited in this fashion, the counter operated control mechanism for the air supply in the cylinders 63 and 101 operates to raise the end stop auxiliary bumper 41 and lower the back stop auxiliary member 75. The bumper 41 moves out of operative position and allows the forward edges of the next succeeding sheets to strike the face of the pad 23' on the main end stop plate 21, while the' rear or trailing edges of the sheets S are pushed back against the auxiliary stop plate 75 by movement of the bumper pad 23 and slide down over the face of the latter into position on the pile with the edge thereof spaced from the vertical plane of the face of the fixed back stop members 73 as shown in Fig. 2.

The number of sheets which are deposited asa unit 1 before the stagger effecting members are moved; depends, of course, upon the nature of the material being handled. The units are selected so that they maybe conveniently handled by the operator. The usual dis tance allowed for finger clearance in picking up the sheets is approximately two inches but this distance may be varied by properly proportioning the supporting members for the auxiliary bumper members 41 and 75.

The operation of the electromagnets in the magnetic conveyor may be controlled by some other suitable control device such as an inductor switch which is operated by the passage of the sheets and which may be arranged to control also the switch 107.

While specific materials and particular details of construction are illustrated and described, it will be understood that other materials and different details of construction may be resorted to within the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A sheet piler of the class described comprising an overhead magnetic conveyor and a stop mechanism having a portion thereof located below the conveyor in position to receive the impact of the leading edges of successive sheets of material advanced by said conveyor and released for deposit in a horizontal position on a pile in front of said stop mechanism, said stop mechanism having a bumper plate, means mounting the bumper plate for limited retractive movement in a horizontal direction upon initial impact of the sheets with the stop mechanism, a pad carrying member mounted for vertical movement in front of said bumper plate, and means to selectively position said pad carrying member at predetermined vertical positions in accordance with the height of the pile in front of the stop mechanism.

2. A sheet piler of the class described comprising an overhead magnetic conveyor and a stop mechanism located adjacent the conveyor with a portion thereof in position to receive the impact of the leading edges of successive sheets of material advanced by said conveyor and released for deposit in a horizontal position on a pile in front of said stop mechanism, said stop mechanism having a main bumper plate, means mounting said main bumper plate for limited retractive movement in a horizontal direction upon initial impact of the sheets with the stop mechanism, an auxiliary bumper plate in front of said main bumper plate, a supporting member on said main bumper plate mounting means for said auxiliary bumper plate, means for guiding said supporting member in a vertical path, and means to position said supporting member at different elevations in accordance with the height of the pile in front of the stop mechanism.

3. A piler mechanism for metal sheets comprising an overhead conveyor and a stop mechanism having a portion thereof located below the conveyor with a bumper pad having a vertical face in position to be engaged by the leading edges of successive sheets as they are advanced and released by the conveyor for deposit in a pile in front of the stop mechanism, said stop mechanism having a bumper plate mounted on a frame, means supporting said frame for cushioned retractive movement in a horizontal direction upon impact of the leading edges of successive sheets with said vertical face, an auxiliary bumper plate located in front of said main bumper plate, a frame for said auxiliary bumper plate, means mounting said frame for vertical reciprocation in front of said main bumper plate and a control mechanism operative by passage of the sheets to reciprocate the frame for the auxiliary bumper plate between a position where the sheets engage the auxiliary bumper plate and a position out of the path of advancing movement of the sheets.

4. A piler mechanism for metal sheets comprising an overhead conveyor and a stop mechanism having a portion thereof located below the conveyor in position to be engaged by the leading edges of successive sheets as they are advanced by the conveyor and released for deposit in a pile in front of the stop mechanism, said stop mechanism including a frame having a vertical face, means mounting said frame for cushioned retractive movement in a horizontal direction upon impact of the leading edges of the sheets with the vertical face thereof, an auxiliary bumper member located in front of said vertical face, a reciprocable carriage mounting said auxiliary bumper member on said frame and a control mechanism operative by passage of the sheets to move the carriage and the auxiliary bumper member thereon from a lowered position where the sheet engages the auxiliary bumper member to a raised position above the path of advancing movement of the sheets.

5. A piler mechanism for metal sheets comprising an overhead conveyor for advancing the sheets and a stop mechanism having a portion thereof located below the conveyor in position to be engaged by the leading edges of successive sheets as they are released by the conveyor for deposit in a pile in front of the stop mechanism, said stop mechanism including a bumper plate, means mounting the bumper plate for cushioned retractive movement in a horizontal direction upon impact therewith of the leading edges of the sheets, an auxiliary bumper member located in front of the bumper plate, a vertically reciprocable carriage for said auxiliary bumper member, a guideway on said bumper plate, mounting means for said carriage, means to vertically reciprocate said carriage, and a control mechanism for said carriage reciprocating means which is operated by passage of the sheets to move said carriage between a position where said auxiliary bumper member is engaged by the sheets advancting toward said bumper plate and a position Where it is above the path of movement of the sheets.

6. In an end stop unit for a sheet piler mechanism, a main stop plate having a vertical slot therein, a supporting frame, a linkage supporting the main stop plate on said frame for horizontal movement while maintaining the face thereof in a vertical plane, an air cylinder cushioning member connected between the stop plate and the support therefor to control the movement thereof, a vertically extending trackway, a carriage mounted in said trackway and having a projecting arm, an auxiliary bumper plate pivotally connected to said arm, said arm extending through the slot in the main stop plate and said auxiliary bumperplate being connected thereto for vertical movement in front of the face of said main stop plate, and means controlled by movement of the sheets to position the auxiliary bumper plate vertically for engagement or non-engagement with the leading edges of successive sheets as they are released for deposit on the pile.

7. In an end stop unit for a stagger piler mecha nism, a main stop plate, a supporting frame therefor, a linkage supporting the main stop plate for horizontal movement, relative to the frame, while maintaining the face thereof in a vertical plane, an air cylinder cushioning member connected between said stop plate and the supporting frame therefor to control the movement thereof, a vertical track, a carriage mounted for movement on said track, an auxiliary bumper plate, said carriage having a projecting arm which is pivotally connected to the lower end of said auxiliary bumper plate, a pivoted link connected to said carriage, an air cylinder operatively connected to said link to impart vertical movement to said carriage, and means controlled by movement of the sheets as a predetermined number thereof are deposited on the pile to actuate the air cylinder for said carriage and position the auxiliary bumper plate above the path of advancing movement of the succeeding sheets.

8. In a mechanism for piling metal sheets in staggered relation comprising a bumper stop mechanism adapted to be engaged by the leading edge of successive sheets as they are advanced by an overhead conveyor and released for deposit on a pile in front of said bumper stop mechanism, a main back up plate spaced a predetermined distance from the bumper stop mechanism which distance is greater than the dimension of the sheets in the direction between said bumper stop mechanism and said back up plate, said bumper stop mechanism including a bumper plate, means mounting the bumper plate for cushioned horizontal movement upon initial impact of the edge of a sheet with said bumper stop mechanism, a bumper pad member mounted for vertical movement in front of said bumper plate and means for vertically reciprocating said bumper pad member between a lowered position where it is engaged by the leading edge of an advancing sheet and a raised position out of the path of movement of the advancing sheet, said back up plate having an auxiliary back up member mounted for vertical movement in front thereof, means for reciprocating said auxiliary back up plate between a lowered position where it will engage and stop the trailing edge of a sheet at a predetermined distance from the face of the main backup plate, and a raised position where it is out of the path of movement of the sheets, and means operative upon the delivery by the conveyor of a predetermined number of sheets to control the position of the bumper pad and the auxiliary back up plate whereby to stagger pile the sheets.

9. In a machine for piling metal sheets in staggered relation, a bumper stop mechanism adapted to be en gaged by the leading edge of successive sheets as they are advanced by an overhead conveyor and released for deposit on a pile in front of said bumper stop mechanism, a fixed, back up plate spaced a predetermined distance from the bumper stop mechanism which distance is greater than the dimension of the sheets in the direction between said bumper stop mechanism and said back up plate, said bumper stop mechanism including a bumper plate, means mounting the bumper plate for cushioned horizontal movement upon initial impact of the edge of a sheet with said bumper stop mechanism, a bumper pad member mounted for vertical movement in front of said bumper plate and means for vertically reciprocating said bumper pad member between a lowered position where it is engaged by the leading edge of an advancing sheet and a raised position out of the path of movement of the advancing sheet, said fixed back up plate having a member mounted for vertical movement between it and said bumper stop mechanism, means for reciprocating said member between a position where it will engage and stop the trailing edge of a sheet at a predetermined distance from the face of the fixed back up plate, and a raised position where it is Withdrawn from the path of movement of the sheets, and means operative upon the delivery by the conveyor of a predetermined number of sheets to control the relative position of the bumper pad member and the movable member on said fixed back up plate whereby to stagger pile the sheets.

10. A mechanism for piling metal sheets comprising an overhead conveyor and apparatus for, guiding the sheets delivered by the conveyor into a pile below the same, said sheet guiding apparatus comprising an end stop unit and a back stop unit, said stop units being spaced from each other a distance Which is greater than the corresponding dimension of the sheets, said end stop unit comprising a bumper plate, means mounting the bumper plate for cushioned retractive movement upon impact of the leading edges of the sheets therewith, an auxiliary bumper plate, means mounting the auxiliary bumper plate for vertical movement in front of the main bumper plate, said auxiliary bumper plate being adapted when positioned in the path of movement of the sheets to be engaged by the leading edges of successive sheets and to stop the same short of the normal position of the main bumper plate, said back stop unit having a relatively fixed back stop plate and an auxiliary back stop plate mounted for vertical movement along the front face thereof, said auxiliary back stop plate, when in position to engage the trailing edge of the sheet, being adapted to stop the sheet and position the trailing edge thereof a predetermined distance from the face of the fixed back stop plate, and sheet controlled operating mechanism for said auxiliary bumper plate and said auxiliary back stop plate to position said auxiliary plates alternately for engagement with the respective edges of the sheets whereby to stagger pile the sheets.

11. A mechanism for piling metal sheets comprising an overhead conveyor and apparatus for guiding the sheets delivered by the conveyor into a pile below the same, said sheet guiding apparatus comprising an end stop unit and a back stop unit, said units being spaced from each other a distance which is greater than the corresponding dimension of the sheets, said end stop unit including a bumper plate, means mounting the bumper plate for cushioned retractive movement upon impact of the leading edges of the sheets therewith and means on said bumper plate adapted to be selectively positioned to space the leading edges of the sheets from said bumper plate, said back stop unit having a relatively fixed back stop plate and an auxiliary back stop plate mounted for vertical movement along the sheet engaging face of said fixed back stop plate, said auxiliary back stop plate, when in lowered position, being adapted to engage the trailing edge of the sheet and position the trailing edge thereof a predetermined distance from the face of the fixed back stop plate.

12. A mechanism for piling metal sheets comprising an overhead conveyor and apparatus for guiding the sheets delivered by the conveyor vertically into a pile below the same, said sheet guiding apparatus comprising an end stop unit and a back stop unit, said units being spaced from each other a distance which is greater than the corresponding dimension of the sheets, said end stop unit including a bumper plate, means mounting the bumper plate for cushioned retractive movement upon impact of the leading edges of successive sheets therewith and means on said bumper plate adapted to be selectively positioned to space the leading edges of the sheets from said bumper plate, said back stop unit having a relatively fixedback stop plate and an auxiliary back stop plate mounted for vertical movement along the front face of said fixed back stop plate, said auxiliary back stop plate, when in position to engage the trailing edge of the sheet, being adapted to stop the sheet and position the trailing edge thereof a predetermined distance from the face of the fixed back stop plate, and sheet controlled operating mechanism for moving said auxiliary back stop plate.

13. In a mechanism for piling metal sheets in staggered relation comprising a bumper stop adapted to be engaged by the leading edge of successive sheets as they are advanced by an overhead conveyor and released for deposit on a pile in front of the bumper stop, a main back stop plate spaced a predetermined distance from the bumper stop which distance is greater than the dimension of the sheets when they are deposited on the pile in the direction between said bumper stop and said back stop plate, said bumper stop including a first bumper plate, means mounting said first bumper plate for cushioned horizontal movement upon initial impact of the edge of the sheet with the bumper stop, a second bumper plate mounted for vertical movement in front of said first bumper plate, means for vertically reciprocating said second bumper plate between a lowered position where it is engaged by the edge of an advancing sheet, and a raised position out of the path of movement of the advancing sheet, and said back stop plate having a pivoted section mounted for vertical movement in front thereof, a carriage for said movable section, a guideway for said carriage, means for reciprocating said carriage to move said section between an extended position, in which it will engage and stop the trailing edges of the sheets at a predetermined distance from the face of the said back stop plate, and a retracted position out of engagement with the sheets, and means operative by the delivery from the conveyor of a predetermined number of sheets to reverse the relative positions of the second bumper plate and the movable section of said back stop plate whereby to stagger pile the sheets.

14. In a mechanism for piling metal sheets in staggered relation in a pile beneath an overhead conveyor which advances successive sheets from a processing line and releases them for deposit on the pile, a bumper stop adapted to be engaged by the leading edge of successive sheets as they are released by the overhead conveyor, a back stop spaced a predetermined distance from the bumper stop for engaging and guiding the trailing edges of the sheets as they are deposited on the pile between said bumper stop and said back stop, said bumper stop including a bumper plate, a supporting frame, means mounting the bumper plate on said supporting frame for cushioned horizontal movement upon initial impact of the leading edge of a sheet with the bumper stop, a bumper pad member, a carriage for said bumper pad member, a vertical guideway on said supporting plate for said carriage, a swingable link connected to said carriage and to said supporting frame, an air cylinder operatively connected to said link to reciprocate said carriage in said guideway and thereby vertically reciprocate said bumper pad member between a lowered position in the path of movement of the sheets as they approach the bumper stop where it is engaged by the edge of an advancing sheet, and a raised position out of the path of movement of the advancing sheet, said back stop having a fixed vertical stop plate and a movable stop plate, a carriage for said movable stop plate, an air cylinder operatively connected to said carriage for reciprocating said movable stop plate between a lowered position in which it will engage and stop the trailing edges of the sheets at a predetermined distance from the face of the fixed back stop plate, and a raised position out of the path of movement of the sheets, and means operative upon the delivery of a predetermined number of sheets to control said air cylinders and position the bumper pad and the movable back stop plate in alternate raised and lowered positions whereby to stagger pile the sheets.

15. A piler mechanism for sheets comprising a conveyor and a stop mechanism having a portion thereof located adjacent the conveyor in position to be engaged by the leading edges of successive sheets as they are advanced by the conveyor and released for deposit in a pile in front of the stop mechanism, said stop mechanism including a frame having a vertical face, means mounting said frame for cushioned retractive movement in a horizontal direction upon impact of the leading edges of the sheets with the vertical face thereof, an auxiliary bumper member mounted to move in front of said vertical face, a vertically movable carriage mounting said auxiliary bumper member on said frame and a control mechanism operative by passage of the sheets to move the carriage and the auxiliary bumper member thereon from a lowered position Where the sheets engage the auxiliary bumper member to a raised position above the path of advancing movement of the sheets.

16. A piler mechanism for sheets comprising a sheet advancing means and a stop mechanism having a main stop plate located so as to be engaged by the leading edges of successive sheets as they are advanced by said sheet advancing means and released for deposit in a pile in front of the stop mechanism, said stop mechanism including a supporting frame, a main stop plate, means mounting said main stop plate on said frame for cushioned retractive movement in a horizontal direction upon impact of the leading edge of a sheet with the vertical face thereof, means forming a vertically extending trackway, a carriage mounted in said trackway, an auxiliary stop plate swingably mounted on said carriage for movement in a vertical direction along the vertical face of said main stop plate, said auxiliary stop plate having a cushioned retractive movement with said main stop plate in the horizontal direction upon impact of the leading edge of a sheet with the vertical face of said auxiliary stop plate, and control means operated by movement of the sheets to raise the carriage so as to move the auxiliary stop plate from a lowered position where it is engaged by the leading end of a sheet to a raised position above the path of advancing movement of the sheets.

17. A piler mechanism for sheets comprising a sheet advancing means and a stop mechanism having a main stop plate member located so as to be engaged by the leading edges of successive sheets as they are advanced by said sheet advancing means and released for deposit in a pile in front of the stop mechanism, said stop mechanism including a supporting frame, a main stop plate member, means mounting said main stop plate member on said frame for cushioned retractive movement in a horizontal direction upon impact of the leading edge of a sheet with the vertical face thereof, means forming a vertically extending trackway, a carriage mounted in said trackway, an auxiliary stop plate member mounted on said carriage and movable with said carriage in a vertical direction in front of the vertical face of said main stop plate, said auxiliary stop plate member being arranged to engage said main stop plate member and move with said member in the horizontal direction upon impact of the leading edge of a sheet with the vertical face thereof and control means operated by movement of the sheets to vertically reciprocate the carriage so as to move the auxiliary stop plate member into and out of operative position where it is engaged by the leading end of a sheet.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 961,263 Staude June 14, 1910 2,143,779 Kaufman Jan. 10, 1939 2,527,911 Buccicone Oct. 31, 1950 2,739,514 Hopwood Mar. 27, 1956 

